Fanart » The lack of pressure has resulted in fewer

After an encouraging outing against the Cowboys in week 1 https://www.carolinapanthersfanshop.com/Cameron-Artis-Payne-Jersey , the Panthers defense laid an absolute stinker in Atlanta. The Falcons sliced and diced Eric Washington’s unit to the tune of 7.4 yards per play, the highest offensive output against the Panthers since that time Cam Newton forgot to bring an extra tie on a road trip. That game was late in the 2016 season, a season in which the Panthers defense was a total mess. Still, they responded to that drubbing with a five sack, five turnover, one safety performance against the Chargers. They’ll look for a similar bounce back when the Bengals come to Bank of America Stadium on Sunday.The Bengals enter the week as one of the least talked about 2-0 teams in the NFL. Despite ranking just 19th in total yards per game https://www.carolinapanthersfanshop.com/J.J.-Jansen-Jersey , the Bengals sit 3rd in the league in scoring, averaging 34 points per game. They rank 4th in the league in points per drive and 5th in the league in drive success rate, according to Football Outsiders. All that is to say their offense is good. It’s not all sunshine and roses for the Bengals though. They’ll be without running back Joe Mixon this week as he recovers from an arthroscopic procedure on his knee. The sophomore sensation accounted for 236 yards and a touchdown through the first two weeks. The equally versatile Giovani Bernard will fill the void left by Mixon, so the Panthers aren’t completely out of the woods there. That brings us to our defensive keys:Don’t let another backup running back gash you. Tevin Coleman was the first running back to go over 100 yards rushing against the Panthers since December 4th, 2016. The offender on that date? Thomas Rawls, another backup running back. Giovani Bernard has been a change of pace back his entire career https://www.carolinapanthersfanshop.com/Mike-Adams-Jersey , but he has topped 80 yards in four of the last five games in which he’s received at least 15 carries. Also the Bengals just signed Thomas Rawls on Wednesday, apparently aware of his kryptonite-like effect on the Panthers. Keep James Bradberry on A.J. Green as much as possible. Last week we saw Bradberry hold Julio Jones to a reasonable 64 yards on 9 targets, with 30 of those yards coming on a circus catch in which Bradberry could do little about. The Panthers face a similarly talented wideout in Green, who sits atop the NFL with 4 receiving touchdowns to his name thus far. Green has been spending some time in the slot this season, so some coverage duties will fall to Captain Munnerlyn and the linebackers, but in an ideal world Bradberry will always be on the same side of the field as the Bengals top target. Disrupt the passing game. This is obviously easier said than done https://www.carolinapanthersfanshop.com/Matt-Kalil-Jersey , but it’s important to note. Andy Dalton has been sacked on just 2.78% of his drop backs, the sixth lowest mark in the league. The lack of pressure has resulted in fewer mistakes for the eighth year pro, as he’s currently sporting the best interception rate of his career. The Panthers front line struggled to get any sort of pressure on Matt Ryan last week and are in for a similarly tough task. However, Dalton is much more susceptible to mistakes under pressure than Ryan is, so the Panthers shouldn’t be afraid to be more aggressive with their blitzing. After one strong performance and one weak one, the Panthers defense currently sits right in the middle of the league in terms of yards and points. This home match-up against a strong Bengals offense will be a great litmus test for the defense heading into the week 4 bye. Your adorable feline may be great for companionship https://www.carolinapanthersfanshop.com/Captain-Munnerlyn-Jersey , but they are terrible for wound care."As sports fans we’ve all heard the expression that losing players are left “licking their wounds” after tough defeats. As a public service to our readers, it’s probably okay for you to lick your own wounds (though that’s gross), but please never allow your cat to lick your open sores. Using your feline as your primary wound care specialist can lead to a terrible condition called cat scratch disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “cat scratch disease (CSD) is a bacterial infection spread by cats. The disease spreads when an infected cat licks a person’s open wound, or bites or scratches a person hard enough to break the surface of the skin.” The CDC says symptoms of cat scratch disease include swelling, pus https://www.carolinapanthersfanshop.com/David-Mayo-Jersey , and pain around the wound. As the disease progresses, the lymph nodes near the infected area can become swollen, tender, or painful. According to the CDC’s image depicting what cat scratch disease looks like, those afflicted by this malady may have hands that appear to have been unplugged from the Matrix and a second bicep muscle in their armpit:Centers for Disease Control and PreventionThe CDC further states that cat scratch disease can result in headaches and exhaustion, but my personal experience has taught me that having an unfulfilling full-time job can lead to the same symptoms. My unprofessional advice to cat lovers who are tired and irritable is to first make sure you don’t have CSD https://www.carolinapanthersfanshop.com/Devin-Funchess-Jersey , then find yourself a more enjoyable occupation. At the time of this publication it was still unknown if exposure to Sir Purr can lead to CSD. Panthers fans are encouraged to consult with their primary care physician, a veterinarian, and a Magic 8-Ball before having contact with the Panthers mascot. The next time your kitten takes a taste of one of your flesh wounds or draws your blood with one of his razor-sharp claws, remember it is no laughing matter. There is nothing funny about cat scratch disease (well, except for the bicep in the armpit, that is.)